With that said, I’m going to repeat (because I think it applies here as well) what I said in the 50 Activities Just for Your Toddler about what I consider a toddler, as well as how I have the best luck with my own toddler:

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I consider a toddler to be roughly of the age of 1 to 3. When they start moving [walking] until they’re able to learn and apply what they’ve learned to other situations.Tips I have for doing activities with toddlers are just a few:

Allow your toddler to explore whatever it is that you give them.

Don’t do an activity with an intentional plan, it never works out with this age range.

Expect a toddler to be interested, leave it out for them to come back to later, or even the next day.

Plan for them to put it in their mouth if you have a mouther.

I also highly recommend the The Toddler’s Busy Book (affiliate link), by Trish Kuffner. It always has something in there that sparks an activity for us.

Three quick tips for the more artsy, crafty types of activities that I’ve found to work well with toddlers:

In general, I’ve found that making art bigger usually works better with toddlers. They’re going to get messy either way. This gives them the creative control.

Use unconventional materials to make art or do crafty things with. The exploration of the new material makes it exciting for them!

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42 Comments

What Toddler Crafts & Art Projects Can We Do? 30 Ideas to Try Learn to create various types of toys – gliders, catapults, boomerangs and many other toys with these fantastic designs. Access https://goo.gl/ry6urS and Learn More!

My 2yr son LOVES markers but he doesn’t stick to paper, he loves coloring on walls the floors ect. and it ends up in a big fit when i take it away. One thing I have found that we both love is the aquadoodle mats. If you have a toddler who does the same as mine I HIGHLY recommend buying an aquadoodle. Its a marker that u refill with water and a large floor mat (or u can get one of their other awesome products). Its just water and it only shows up on the mat and when the water dries (only takes a few minutes) its back to a blank canvas. We got ours from Walmart and Amazon sells them as well

This is great! I’ll be homeschooling my fourth grader this fall for the first time and I want to have some ideas at the ready for her brother (who will be one year-old by then) for those days when he wants to join in. This is a great starting point. Thanks!

Very nice! I would love to feature your site in an upcoming article on Examiner.com! Please contact me if you are interested. I do plan to link back to some of these ideas for an article this week! Thanks!

What Parents Have to Say…

There's always something new for us to discover, as well as old favorites. I am so grateful to have activities handed to us... Fun and easy ones that can be put together in a moment's notice! You're awesome Jamie and I appreciate you sharing your activities and ideas!! - Melissa C.

I feel like a new mama having so many fun ideas. I used to dread the afternoon, after naps, as it was so boring doing the same thing day after day but now I look forward to our "play" time!- Haley S.

You have changed how I spend time with my kid in so many positive ways! I am now one happy dad that no longer wonders what I am going to do with this little guy for the next 12 hours :P Your site was this first time dad life saver! - Jack C.

It is hard to think of things to keep the 3 year old entertained and engaged while taking care of the baby. Everything we have tried so far from your website, the three year old has loved. Your ideas are so simple and he can do them for hours. HEAVEN!- Karen I.